Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Fichrymeror’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Fichrymeror’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly and broadly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plant form; uniform and freely flowering habit; large decorative-type inflorescences with orange bronze-colored ray florets; mid-season flowering habit, grown under natural season conditions, plants begin flowering in mid-September in the United Kingdom; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FICHRYMEROR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant,botanically known as Chrysanthemum X morifolium, commercially grown as agarden Chrysanthemum plant, referred to as code number 65802 in U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/497,574 and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Fichrymeror’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new mid-season floweringgarden Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination made inJanuary, 2012 by the Inventor in Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom of aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as codenumber 83327, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as codenumber 802167, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newChrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Fareham,Hampshire, United Kingdom in September, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by terminalvegetative cuttings was first conducted in Fareham, Hampshire, UnitedKingdom in December, 2012. Asexual reproduction by terminal vegetativecuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemumplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fichrymeror’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fichrymeror’ as a new and distinctChrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly and broadly        mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and full plant form.    -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large decorative-type inflorescences with orange        bronze-colored ray florets.    -   6. Mid-season flowering habit, grown under natural season        conditions, plants begin flowering in mid-September in the        United Kingdom.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower later than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent        selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the female        parent selection have inflorescences with yellow-colored ray        florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower earlier than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent        selection have inflorescences with coral pink-colored ray        florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Fichrysunfla’, disclosed in a U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 15/732,524. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of‘Fichrysunfla’ in time to flower as plants of the new Chrysanthemumflower earlier than plants of ‘Fichrysunfla’. In addition, plants of thenew Chrysanthemum and ‘Fichrysunfla’ differ in ray floret color asplants of ‘Fichrysunfla’ have inflorescences with yellow and goldenbronze bi-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Chrysanthemum plant.

The photograph is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘Fichrymeror’ grown in a 14-cm container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the winter in 14-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom andunder cultural practices typical of commercial garden Chrysanthemumproduction. During the production of the plants, day and nighttemperatures ranged from 17° C. to 21° C. and light levels averaged6,000 lux. Plants were grown under long day/short night conditions forabout five weeks (including propagation period) and then grown undershort day/long night conditions to induce inflorescence initiation anddevelopment. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photograph anddetailed description were taken. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Fichrymeror’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code number 83327,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code number 802167,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent            on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type garden            Chrysanthemum; stems upright to outwardly spreading giving a            uniformly and broadly mounded appearance to the plant;            numerous lateral branches and relatively short internodes,            dense and full plant form; moderately vigorous to vigorous            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 16 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 27 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; about nine lateral            branches develop after removal of terminal apex (pinching).        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 11 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:            About 85° from vertical and then bending upwardly. Texture:            Fine pubescence. Color: Close to 138B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Palmately-lobed; roughly ovate with three to five            lobes.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Broadly attenuate.        -   Margin.—Slightly dentate and palmately lobed; sinuses            between lateral lobes mostly divergent.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Fine pubescence; slightly            rough; veins prominent on lower surface.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,            close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137B; venation, close to 137C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Fine pubescence; slightly            rough. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Form and flowering habit.—Decorative-type inflorescence form            with ligulate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences borne on            terminals above and beyond the foliar plane; disc and ray            florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum; freely            flowering habit with about 72 inflorescences developing per            plant during the flowering season.        -   Fragrance.—Strongly fragrant; pungent, herbaceous.        -   Flowering response.—Mid-season flowering habit, plants            exposed to natural season conditions begin flowering in            mid-September in the United Kingdom; plants flower uniformly            and continuously during the flowering season.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good color            and substance for about three to five weeks on the plant;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About            8 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Close to 137A.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6 cm.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 2 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Conical. Color: Close to 145A.        -   Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About            163 arranged in about seven whorls. Orientation: Initially            upright, then about 80° from vertical. Length: About 2 cm.            Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Emarginate. Base:            Fused into a short tube. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; double-keeled. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to N172A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to N167B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to N163A; with development, color becoming closer to N172C.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 167B; with            development, color becoming closer to 165C.        -   Disc florets.—Disc floret initiation and development has not            been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum to date.        -   Phyllaries.—Number of phyllaries per inflorescence: About 18            arranged in about three whorls. Length: About 6 mm. Width:            About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            waxy. Texture, lower surface: Fine pubescence; waxy. Color,            upper surface: Close to 143A. Color, lower surface: Close to            137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.6 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Angle: Erect to            about 5° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Densely            pubescent. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: None observed. Gynoecium:            Present only on ray florets. Pistil length: About 4 mm.            Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 12A. Style            length: About 0.1 mm. Style color: Close to 1B. Ovary color:            Close to 155C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum to date.-   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Chrysanthemum plants has not been observed on plants of the new    Chrysanthemum to date.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    demonstrated good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures    from about 0° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named‘Fichrymeror’ as illustrated and described.